It didn’t take long before we entered a completely different world. As we rode away from the Banff Trail Riders stables on the outskirts of Banff, Alta., we passed the last of the hikers and cyclists. We were headed to Sundance Lodge in the Banff wilderness, and until we returned two days later, we saw […] Read more
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Paying a visit to Saskatchewan’s most famous waterfall
A trip to Nistowiak Falls is ideal for those who want to get into the wilderness, but not go too far. It’s the most famous waterfall in Saskatchewan, both because of its beauty and accessibility. Less than 20 kilometres from the end of the road at Stanley Mission, most visitors get there by canoeing down […] Read more
Cameras in drones allow us to take art of photography to new heights
These days when we’re still discouraged from travelling very far, taking our photography to the sky is a great way to gain a new perspective on places close to home. Drone photography is soaring in popularity and it’s easy to see why. We’re no longer restricted to seeing things from ground level, or finding a […] Read more
Photographing the night sky an ideal pandemic pastime
Night photography can open up a whole new world. With travel advisories still affecting how far afield we should go, visiting familiar locales close to home at night is almost like discovering new places. Something simple like a tree in the pasture might seem unremarkable during the day, but photograph it against the core of […] Read more
Travel restrictions revive interest in nearby attractions
Some of the biggest travel trends emerging recently have included outdoor activities, staying reasonably close to home and taking road trips in our own vehicles. The pandemic has been the main driver of this. While hope for greater travel freedom is on the horizon with continued vaccine rollouts, it seems unlikely that significant change will […] Read more
This is a great year to discover joys of winter camping
Want to take an exotic winter holiday while still observing pandemic protocols and travel advisories? Winter camping fits the bill. It’s a completely different experience from camping at other times of the year, with a lot of advantages. For starters, you don’t need ice for your cooler. Many parks are almost deserted, making social distancing […] Read more
Light displays make Christmas holidays merry and bright
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected many of our plans this Christmas. One bright spot is drive-through light displays where we can safely experience the magic of the holiday season from our vehicles. Here are a few options from across the Prairies, keeping in mind that anything could be altered or cancelled on short notice […] Read more
International travel promises to be extra challenging this winter
The official Canadian government travel advisory is clear: “Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.” Yet many Canadians are either making plans or thinking about a winter vacation in warmer climes. Most face a mind-boggling array of constantly changing regulations as to where they are allowed to go, where it might be safe to […] Read more
Complete overhaul coming this fall for Aeroplan program
November will bring so many changes to Aeroplan, Air Canada’s points program, that it essentially becomes a new program with new rules. It is difficult to say if the new Aeroplan is better or worse than the old one. It will depend on how you use it. A major difference is that the number of […] Read more
Waterton Lakes’ major attractions have now reopened
While all national parks went through tough times due to COVID-19, Waterton Lakes National Park in southwestern Alberta had to contend with a double whammy. The pandemic struck while it was still rebuilding after the massive Kenow Fire of 2017 that burned more than one-third of the park. The townsite was spared, barely, but the […] Read more
